Janesville company establishes scholarship fund for Blackhawk Technical College

JANESVILLE—J.P. Cullen & Sons has established a scholarship fund for students at Blackhawk Technical College.

The program will offer five $1,000 scholarships each year for students seeking associate degrees in accounting, information technology and administrative professional.

The company has committed $25,000 to fund the J.P. Cullen & Sons Scholarship for five years, according to a college news release.

Mark Cullen said it might sound odd that a construction company would fund a scholarship that isn't for construction-related fields, but the company understands the value that these workers bring to any company.

“First of all, Blackhawk Tech has a wonderful business faculty, and it's quietly known about,” Cullen said.

J.P. Cullen & Sons also likes the fact that the overwhelming majority of Blackhawk graduates stay close to home and contribute to the local economy, Cullen said.

Cullen noted that his brother Richard was president of the BTC Foundation when it first started and is dedicated to the institution.

The company has long been involved with the college. Its project managers and tradespeople serve on Blackhawk advisory boards for programs that emphasize construction-related trades.

Those who apply for the scholarships will be selected from the pool that meets the BTC Foundation's Oct. 1 deadline, according to a BTC news release. Money would be applied to the following spring semester.

A committee will review, score and rank the applications based on a student's commitment to education, career goals, community service, work experience and financial need.

New and continuing students interested in applying must be enrolled in one of the three eligible programs, take six or more credits per semester and carry a 2.5 grade point average.